Japan to use laser drones to protect farms from wild animals and birds

Japanese company NTT has developed drones that use lasers to scare birds and wild animals away from farms. The new technology is planned to be used to reduce the risk of the spread of bird flu, which causes significant losses to the agricultural sector every year, writes Tom's Hardware.

The BB102 (Bird and Beast) drone was developed in collaboration with NTT East Japan and the Chiba prefectural government. The drone has a laser system that projects red and green beams in the form of moving dots. These colors have been proven to be effective in scaring away not only birds, but also larger animals, including deer and wild boar.

The system is not a weapon. The laser does not harm the animals, but only creates a light effect that causes them discomfort. The beams flash at intervals to prevent the birds from getting used to the light or avoiding it.

Drones can operate autonomously, patrolling designated areas without human intervention. Developers emphasize that this is a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional methods, such as the use of chemicals or noise repellers. In addition, farmers will be able to receive government subsidies for the purchase of such systems.

Bird flu remains a serious threat to Japan's poultry industry. Wild waterfowl such as ducks and geese are natural carriers of the virus, which can be transmitted to domestic poultry. In the winter of 2025, more than 3.3 million birds had to be culled in Chiba Prefecture alone to stop the spread of the disease.

NTT's development is intended not only to prevent similar incidents, but also to make farms more resilient to future epidemics.